Bobbin Head Rainforest Walk

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Safer Bushwalks
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There

Start	(-33.6633056,151.1570827)
Mode	Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
Directions	From Pacific Motorway, M1 Turn on to Berowra Offramp then drive for 630 m Turn slight left onto Windybanks Interchange and drive for another 55 m Turn left onto Pacific Highway, B83 and drive for another 6 km Turn left onto Belmont Parade and drive for another 75 m Turn right onto Belmont Parade and drive for another 210 m Turn left onto Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Road and drive for another 7.1 km Turn right and drive for another 300 m Turn slight right and drive for another 155 m

Track Notes

Getting started
From the far southern end of the Bobbin Head car park, this walk follows the footpath behind the 'Gibberagong Track. Mangrove Boardwalk.' sign (away from the car park and picnic tables) for about 20m to the sheltered 'Welcome to the Mangrove Boardwalk & Gibberagong Track' information sign. Here the walk continues along the patterned concrete path beside the water for just under 20m to pass a bench seat where the path bends right. After just shy of 20m the path leads past another bench seat to find a sandstone cave (with a 1.9m clearance)with a 'Rock Solid?' information sign. Here the path bends left and crosses Cockle Creek on a cable-stayed foot bridge. Enjoy the great water and cliff views from the bridge. The walk now follows the fenced timber boardwalk for about 25m to come to a viewing area marked with a 'Teeming with life' information sign.
Continue straight: From the viewing area, this walk follows the timber boardwalk away from the fenced area initially keeping the main view of water to your left. This section of boardwalks does not have handrails or side capping. Over the next 100m the boardwalk winds among the mangroves and saltmarsh and past the 'Natural Recycler' and 'Land Developers?' information signs to come to the end of the boardwalk, marked with a 'More? You want more?' information sign. There is a turning area for wheelchairs at the end of the boardwalk.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Parking Accessible (about 30 m back from the start). Parking Accessible Parking Accessible There are many car parking bays around Bobbin Head Picnic Area. There are two marked mobility parking bays at the southern end. The parking area is tarmac, 2.8m wide and 5.8m deep. + - There are many car parking bays around Bobbin Head Picnic Area. There are two marked mobility parking bays at the southern end. The parking area is tarmac, 2.8m wide and 5.8m deep. Wheelchair Rough (about 25 m back from the start). Wheelchair Rough Wheelchair Rough There is a single ramp to access the path from the car park. The concrete ramp is 1.2m wide. The ramp is in a marked parking bay and may be blocked by a car. + - There is a single ramp to access the path from the car park. The concrete ramp is 1.2m wide. The ramp is in a marked parking bay and may be blocked by a car. There is a park (about 10 m back from the start). There is a car park. After another 20 m find the "Picnic Table" (9 m on your right). Picnic Table Picnic Table A series of 3 timber slat picnic tables and bench seats. The tables are 74cm high, 74cm deep and 2.9m wide. The seats are 40cm high, 23cm deep and 1.8m wide (no backrest). The tables are centred on 3.5x4.5m concrete slabs. Access over grass. + - A series of 3 timber slat picnic tables and bench seats. The tables are 74cm high, 74cm deep and 2.9m wide. The seats are 40cm high, 23cm deep and 1.8m wide (no backrest). The tables are centred on 3.5x4.5m concrete slabs. Access over grass. After another 55 m pass the sign (on your right). Then find the "Seat" (on your left). Seat Seat A timber slat bench seat, 43cm high, 30cm deep and 1.6m wide with a 41cm high backrest. The seat is on conrete beside the track. + - A timber slat bench seat, 43cm high, 30cm deep and 1.6m wide with a 41cm high backrest. The seat is on conrete beside the track. After another 5 m cross the bridge (about 50 m long) After another 35 m find the "Wheelchair Steep" (on your left). Wheelchair Steep Wheelchair Steep The bridge over Cockle Creek is 1.8m wide, has 1m high handrail and a timber decking. The steepest section is 5.3Â° (1:10 or 9.2% grade). The bridge is 40m long. + - The bridge over Cockle Creek is 1.8m wide, has 1m high handrail and a timber decking. The steepest section is 5.3Â° (1:10 or 9.2% grade). The bridge is 40m long.
	Continue straight, to head along Gibberagong Track. Then find the "Cockle Creek viewing platform" (on your left). Cockle Creek viewing platform Cockle Creek viewing platform Part way along the timber Bobbin Head boardwalk is a partially fenced timber viewing platform. There is a beautiful view over Cockle Creek and a 'Teeming with life' information sign to enjoy. The platform area is 7.3m deep and 3.9m wide. + - Part way along the timber Bobbin Head boardwalk is a partially fenced timber viewing platform. There is a beautiful view over Cockle Creek and a 'Teeming with life' information sign to enjoy. The platform area is 7.3m deep and 3.9m wide. Then find the "Trip Hazard" (on your left). Trip Hazard Trip Hazard Approximately 120m of elevated timber boardwalk has no handrails, edge capping or markings - there is a risk of falling from the boardwalk. The board walk is 1.7m wide, with approximately 2cm gaps between boards. + - Approximately 120m of elevated timber boardwalk has no handrails, edge capping or markings - there is a risk of falling from the boardwalk. The board walk is 1.7m wide, with approximately 2cm gaps between boards. After another 110 m come to the "Trip Hazard". Trip Hazard Trip Hazard A section of board is missing leaving a 7cm gap in the boardwalk. Other gaps on this section of the walk may develop. + - A section of board is missing leaving a 7cm gap in the boardwalk. Other gaps on this section of the walk may develop. After another 8 m head up the stone steps (about 45 m long) After another 150 m head down the 24 earthen steps (about 25 m long) After another 35 m head down the 4 earthen steps After another 8 m head down the 5 earthen steps (about 6 m long) After another 15 m head down the 6 earthen steps (about 5 m long)
	After another 25 m continue straight, to head along Gibberagong Track. After another 30 m find the "Aboriginal Axe Grindings" (7 m on your left). Aboriginal Axe Grindings Aboriginal Axe Grindings This protected site clearly shows 23 oval-shaped grooves that were worn by Indigenous Australian people, making axe heads from hard rock. Using a blank axe head, the Aboriginal people would use this rock platform, with water from the nearby creek, to sharpen the stone into a useful tool. The rubbing ground the axe head to a sharp edge and left behind these tell-tale signs. + - This protected site clearly shows 23 oval-shaped grooves that were worn by Indigenous Australian people, making axe heads from hard rock. Using a blank axe head, the Aboriginal people would use this rock platform, with water from the nearby creek, to sharpen the stone into a useful tool. The rubbing ground the axe head to a sharp edge and left behind these tell-tale signs.
	At the intersection of Gibberagong Track & Rainforest Track turn left, to head along Rainforest Track.
	Continue another 205 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 820 m to get back to the start. "Bobbin Head Rainforest". Bobbin Head Rainforest Bobbin Head Rainforest A well-protected piece of rainforest is found just a short walk from the popular Bobbin Head picnic area in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. The rainforest is distinct when compared to much of the dry eucalypt forests that dominate the area. The rainforest is beside a small creek, just below Bobbin Head Road, and is a safe haven for many birds that frequent the area. + - A well-protected piece of rainforest is found just a short walk from the popular Bobbin Head picnic area in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. The rainforest is distinct when compared to much of the dry eucalypt forests that dominate the area. The rainforest is beside a small creek, just below Bobbin Head Road, and is a safe haven for many birds that frequent the area.

Terrain

Bobbin Head Rainforest Walk

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	1.6 km
Time	40 min to 1 h 20 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Seat: There is one 75 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	75 m	Seat

Articles

Bobbin Head
Bobbin Head is a historic recreation area which is still popular today, suiting the needs of many people. At the center of the Bobbin Head area is the old 'Bobbin Inn', built in the 1930s - it is now the park information center and cafe. The area is popular with picnickers, boaters, walkers, canoeists, family groups and people who like to fish. Bobbin Head is roughly divided into three sections (north, south and east). Southern Bobbin Head is a popular picnic area for families and large groups. The area is surrounded by a car park and dotted with picnic tables, electric BBQs, shelters and a large playground. There are toilets nearby, and 'The Station' is a sheltered accessible area with BBQ and tables that can be booked NPWS. The northern Bobbin Head (Orchard Park) area is a more formal picnic area. There is a large picnic shelter, surrounded by 14 smaller octagonal shelters, each of these divided into 4 walled-off compartments, ideal for small groups. The eastern side of Bobbin Head is dominated by the Empire Marina and a public wharf. The marina is home to a nice restaurant and public toilets.

Aboriginal Axe Grindings
This protected site clearly shows 23 oval-shaped grooves that were worn by Indigenous Australian people, making axe heads from hard rock. Using a blank axe head, the Aboriginal people would use this rock platform, with water from the nearby creek, to sharpen the stone into a useful tool. The rubbing ground the axe head to a sharp edge and left behind these tell-tale signs.

Bobbin Head Rainforest
A well-protected piece of rainforest is found just a short walk from the popular Bobbin Head picnic area in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. The rainforest is distinct when compared to much of the dry eucalypt forests that dominate the area. The rainforest is beside a small creek, just below Bobbin Head Road, and is a safe haven for many birds that frequent the area.

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